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About the course

Your training will lead to the award of a PGCE by the University of Reading as well as a recommendation for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by the Department for Education (DfE). The PGCE includes 60 credits at Masters level, the equivalent of one third of an MA that you can add to subsequently.

The course content has been developed in collaboration between the University and partnership schools so that you can explore issues raised in the University through your work with pupils in school. You will have opportunities to consider issues raised in school against a wide range of educational principles to which you will be introduced.

Periods of school experience are integrated into all aspects of the course, and you work in schools throughout the year. Your work in school takes a variety of forms including observing experienced teachers, team teaching, working with small groups, taking responsibility for the learning of whole classes and getting involved in all aspects of school life. You will be well supported in school by a range of experienced and well-trained people including a subject and a professional mentor and university-based tutors.

The university-based programme comprises two main aspects: Professional Studies and Subject Studies.

Professional Studies develops insights into general aspects of education essential for entrants to the teaching profession. It gives consideration to whole-school issues, such as behaviour management, special educational needs and educational theories that contextualise the teaching of your subject. It is taught in small, mixed-subject seminar groups.

Subject Studies enables you to study the teaching of your chosen subject. This includes consideration of aspects such as: the nature of the subject in the secondary school; its place in The National Curriculum; what is taught; how it is taught; how it is assessed; providing for young people with different backgrounds and abilities; teaching in accordance with examination specification requirements; and using ICT effectively to facilitate learning.

Interview process

If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited for an interview and assessment day at Calthorpe Park School or at one of our consortium partner schools.

If you are successful at interview, a conditional offer of a place will be made. The conditions will include providing proof that you have met the eligibility conditions for Initial Teacher Training, including a criminal record check and an occupational health assessment. Further conditions may be discussed with you at interview.

If you accept the offer of a place, you will be required to attend an Induction and Needs Assessment Afternoon at the University of Reading. This will be an opportunity to meet the University subject tutor, who will help you identify pre-course targets to prepare you for your training. If you are offered a salaried place, you will be asked to attend an induction day at school, on which you will agree an Individual Training Plan and the details of your contract with the school.

How school placements work

This placement is at Alderwood School. The school has 555 pupils and the staff encourages each pupil to 'be the best they can be'. The school is an all through school with provision from ages 4-16 on three sites. The school's ethos is based on the Olympic Values, which are developed through both the curriculum and the House System. The community served by the school is diverse and there are currently pupils of 31 nationalities at the school.

The staff is committed to ensuring all pupils succeed and develop a passion for learning; there are a wide range of opportunities available through the curriculum and through enhancement activities. Lessons are challenging and engaging and pupils enjoy coming to school.

As part of the Calthorpe Park Consortium and in partnership with Reading University, we offer a full range of initial teacher training. Trainees are supported by highly successful teaching mentors and a full professional studies programme.

http://senior.alderwood.hants.sch.uk/index.asp

Your second placement is after Christmas for 8 weeks at another school – either a school in our consortium or a school of your choice.

Fees

The course fees for 2019/2020 are as follows:

Student type

Fees to pay

UK students

£9,250

EU students

£9,250

£7,710 for QTS

Financial support

You could be eligible for either:

a scholarship of £28,000

a bursary of £26,000

To qualify for a scholarship you’ll need a degree of 2:1 or above in Chemistry or a related subject. For a bursary you’ll need a 2:2 or above in any subject.

You can’t claim both a bursary and a scholarship - you can only claim one.

Requirements

Qualifications

Candidates should normally have a 1st, 2:1 or 2:2 honours degree in a subject that is closely related to the subject they intend to teach. All candidates must have at least a C grade (or equivalent) for GCSE Maths and English.

Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) courses are offered in Maths, Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Science. These courses are for candidates whose degree included an element of the subject they intend to teach or who have extensive experience in the subject. They are designed to enable candidates to develop the level of specialist knowledge required to teach their chosen subject.

Personal qualities

All candidates must have passed the QTS Skills Tests in numeracy and literacy before starting the course.

All applicants are expected to have gained some experience in a state secondary school prior to interview.

About the training provider

The Calthorpe Park consortium is an exciting place to work and learn. We have a long and successful history of training and developing future teachers and are proud to offer a number of training places for 2019/2020.

The consortium comprises nine very varied schools which present dynamic and exciting training possibilities for those wishing to pursue a career in teaching. We have five secondary schools in the consortium, one of which also has a sixth form. We also have one infant school, one junior school, one primary school and one special needs primary school which provides a unique opportunity for trainees to experience a very different educational setting.

Calthorpe Park School is the lead school in this consortium and our partner schools are located in north-east Hampshire within a few miles of each other. Our partners include:

Frogmore Community College, Yateley

Yateley School, Yateley

Cove School, Farnborough

Alderwood School, Aldershot

All Saints Church of England Junior School, Fleet

Potley Hill Primary School, Yateley

Henry Tyndale School, Farnborough

Tavistock Infant School, Fleet

Calthorpe Park School and partners work collaboratively as part of the University of Reading ITT Partnership to ensure that its trainees receive the best of what School-based and University-based training has to offer. These two aspects of the course are closely integrated and supported by University subject tutors as well by members of staff in school who receive specialist training at the University.

Training with disabilities and other needs

The University of Reading welcomes all students and has a dedicated Disability Advisory Service which offers advice and guidance to students with any disability, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty (SpLD).

Support and advice

Get support and advice about teaching

Register with Get into Teaching, the Department for Education’s free support and advice service, for personalised guidance from teaching experts. They can help you to prepare your application, book school experience, and access exclusive teaching events. You can also call them free on 0800 389 2500, or speak to an adviser using their online chat service, from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.

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